Games news: New Xbox

Through a series of carefully choreographed leaks, Microsoft has revealed plans to relaunch Xbox 360 towards the end of next year. While not a completely new console, the Xbox refresh will apparently feature Project Natal's functionality, as seen at this year's Electronics Entertainment Expo, letting players control games through movements so subtle that changes in facial expression can be detected using a radar-style built-in camera. After the Nintendo Wii showed that removing conventional control methods meant legions of non-gamers were suddenly welcome and interested, both Sony and Microsoft have taken steps towards their own joypad-free futures. While the new Xbox is still some way off, anyone who witnessed the E3 demonstration will realise it's going to be a very busy year-and-a-bit to turn a peculiar technical demonstration into playable games.